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In a big blow to the animal and pet community in Santa Barbara-as well as to the nearly 60 employees out of a job just days before the holidays-the California Animal Referral and Emergency Hospital, better known as CARE, closed Wednesday.

The hospital was the only one of its kind in the entire county, providing 24-hour emergency services to animals up and down the Central Coast. The Pet Emergency Clinic and the Ventura Medical and Surgical Group-both in Ventura-are now the closest two hospitals to Santa Barbara, putting pet owners in a pickle should their animal face an emergency situation.

The hospital, open since 2003, stopped accepting emergency appointments Tuesday morning, and honored surgical and internal medicine appointments through Wednesday. The two owners, Drs. Deanna Purvis and Trisha Lane, say they were forced to close after losing a lawsuit filed against them and CARE by cofounder Dr. Eric Wright.

Paul Wellman

The sign on CARE’s door offering directions to the nearest pet hospital in Ventura

Purvis said as a result of the suit, CARE is filing bankruptcy as a corporation, and she and Lane will also be filing personal bankruptcy. The two plan to pick up their lives and move out of Santa Barbara, Purvis said. They didn’t tell employees about the lawsuit and didn’t mention until Friday they were on a deadline to come up with money to keep the hospital alive. “They deserved to know at that point that they could be losing their jobs,” explained Purvis, who said she told employees Monday they would be out of jobs come Wednesday.

Purvis blamed the pending bankruptcy of CARE, and its closing Wednesday, largely on the lawsuit from Wright. “The judgment amount was so large, there’s no way our company could pay,” she said, also citing the downturn in the economy. She also noted the couple had looked for potential buyers and investors, but nothing came to fruition. “We just got hit too many times.” Despite that, Purvis said, she didn’t want to slam her former business partner, “I chose him,” she said.

Wright-awarded $1.08 million in the May judgment, rendered after arbitration by former Judge James Slater-was singing a different tune than Purvis, however. He claims that to date he has only received $10,000 of the judgment award from his former partners, and has yet to receive full payment for his initial capital investment. He blamed the closure on mismanagement of CARE by Purvis and Lane since he left 20 months ago.

It was in 2002 that Purvis, then an out-of-town vet, got together with Wright to start CARE. After a short time, Purvis convinced Wright to allow Lane to become a one-third shareholder. Wright agreed, and each contributed $30,000 in capital to the cause, with Wright also putting in the $186,000 value of his former company. Wright said in his lawsuit that he was initially against the idea but ultimately agreed, after Purvis and Lane-who were romantically involved-convinced him the relationship wouldn’t affect their actions. He alleges it did, as he would lose two-to-one on all issues, especially those detrimentally affecting him.

“This is a case where two majority shareholders are taking advantage of a situation that they helped create,” wrote Wright’s attorney in the lawsuit.

As part of a shareholders’ agreement, Wright was to become board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgery by April 1, 2008. If not, the agreement allowed for an extension of time, or the shareholders could vote to fire him, buy his shares at half price, and terminate his interest. When it became apparent that he would be unable to be board certified by the deadline, he alerted Purvis and Lane in November 2007, asking for an extension of time. Instead, they notified him that his time would be done by April 2008.

According to an appraisal of the company, CARE was worth $4 million in 2006, and based on projections, Wright estimated the company would be worth $4.5 million in 2008, with his share being one-third of that. Buying Wright’s shares at half price meant Lane and Purvis would essentially be making $750,000, he argued. “This is a case where two majority shareholders are taking advantage of a situation that they helped create,” wrote Wright’s attorney in the lawsuit.

Paul Wellman

The closed CARE Hospital on the corner of Garden and Haley streets

While attorneys for Lane and Purvis said Wright had buyer’s remorse and was “evidently unhappy that he did not make a better financial deal,” the arbitrator laid a smackdown on Purvis and Lane in his decision, siding with Wright, and explaining that the original agreement wasn’t meant to be applied in the situation of someone being fired. “The evidence is clear that, although these sections could be applied to any type of termination, it was contemplated by the parties that these provisions were meant to target voluntary terminations,” Slater wrote.

While the lawsuit floated under the community’s radar, the announcement of CARE’s closing did not, as pet owners were shocked and disappointed by the news, which left many wondering what this means for emergency pet care in Santa Barbara.

Wendy McCaw; Kirk and Michael Douglas; Oprah; and the list goes on of people blessed with the financial resources to make a difference. Between all the wealthy people who live in the Santa Barbara area the funds are easily available to fund another all night pet hospital. It's the right thing to do.

Yes billclausen, it IS the right thing to do, but sadly, most celebs and other high-profile wealthy people prefer to support things either in other countries and/or wherever they can get the most good press.

Bailing out and fixing a pet emergency hospital in the very area where they live is not going to be on that list.

Sadly, there is a lot of lip service in celeb circles paid to the concept of being an animal lover, but when the poop comes in contact with the rotary blade air-circulation device, the rubber rarely meets the road, so to speak.

We all know that it would be the easiest thing in the world for any or all of these people to write what for them would be a check amounting to not much more or less than the price of a shopping spree. It won't happen.

I don't know who's right or wrong here, and it could just as well be a case of all three are a little right and a little wrong.

What's important here is that a facility which, while grossly overpriced and 100% monty-oriented, had tremendous potential to do great things, is now gone. That resource is gone.

I live in the Santa Ynez Valley, and as if the 45 minute drive down into the Belly of the Beast (Santa Barbara) wasn't bad before, now it's really bad. Our options are Ventura (over an hour) or Arroyo Grande (50 minutes or more) for pet emergencies.

When our family's cat had a near fatal cardiac crisis due to HCM a few years back, we were able to get him stabilized up here, and my brother drove him down to CARE on his way in to work in SB.

It cost a fortune and our family practically melted several credit cards (because CARE wanted their money and they wanted it up front) to do it, but he was saved and went on to live another 10 excellent months of quality life.

Now, who knows?

So yes, let's see how none of the local big-bucks celebs, self-proclaimed pet lovers, and philanthropists step up to the plate to make their own community a better place for its pets and their owners.

Listen for the deafening silence from these folks. I don't need to name names, they know who they are and so do we.

Yet another "broken window" in Santa Barbara's many "broken windows"..leading to its overall decline in desirability...

Merry Christmas to SB County's pets, their owners, and the CARE employees who AREN'T blessed with those high-dollar college degrees and the potential for equally high-dollar jobs that the vets who started this clinic have.

This truly is sad. As a proud family member of 2 beautiful felines it makes me cringe that quality care for them in the event of an emergency has been removed. I also feel bad for the employees & their loss of employment. My hope is that somebody, anybody, w/ the proper resources steps up, but like Holly said, it more than likely won't happen. In any case, a merry Christmas to all, may this issue be resolved :) henry

I woulda figured CARE could survive for at least a week on what I alone have paid them. :-) I've used them once for a cat and once for a dog, and they were probably lifesavers in both cases. It's scary going into a holiday weekend without 24-hour care available. But if the free market works like it is supposed to--if there's enough business to support a 24-hour pet hospital--then we'll have another one soon.

We had a really bad experience at CARE. Also from Santa Ynez we had a cat get attacked by a wild animal, lots of bits and blood. They indicated it would take about $1100 to fix him up, by the time he left there it was over $5000 and we ended up having to take him to our local vet because they released with a raging infection (the cat did make it). I was not impressed and if they said it was going to cost $5000 we would have euthanized the cat. We don't even have a car worth $5000, we are not rich and they took advantage and did not do a good job. So we never going to take another animal there any way and I am not surprised that the owners are failing due to their greed.

First, let me own up to being a veterinarian. While I call Goleta home, I do not practice at a clinic in the area. I am deeply saddened by the loss of the 24 hour emergency animal hospital that saved my own dogs life. CARE had the advanced equipment and knowledgeable staff necessary to treat her after she was hit by a car (she jumped through a window & chased after our car). Operating an emergency animal hospital is very challenging in these economic times. Any ER will ask for money up front. Clients will say that money is no object because they don't intend to pay. Some animals are abandoned when owners decide not to pay the bill. An ER must remain in good terms with the local veterinarians. Their responsibility is to stabilize the patient and get it transferred back to the care of the pet's primary veterinarian. An ER has own and maintain medical equipment to perform on-site diagnostics and intensive care monitoring. CARE was determined to have the highest quality staff available round the clock. You have to pay for them to be there when you need them. An animal ER is not cheap, but I disagree that they are greedy. I know the hours that critical care doctors put in. It is hard to have any life at all outside of the clinic. They were very dedicated to providing excellent veterinary care to the community.

I wholeheartedly agree with what dmccluredvm said about the financial aspect of the Pet ER buisiness. Many clients complain of the costs. Many pet owners do not have pet insurance. If you looked at the actual bill of your own medical services; you would understand the costs related. Yet, many people in SB will own a $1 million plus home and/or expensive car and complain about a $300 vet bill.

While, it is sad that it will be a longer commute to find an ER Pet Hospital; I do not hold C.A.R.E. in any high regards. I am a Registered Vet Tech. I have worked dual roles in a Day Hospital and ER. I know firsthand of the illegal and immoral practices that they adhered by. This stemmed from their staff and Vets. It was not every employee who conducted unethical standards, but it was more than a few. I am sorry for the loss of jobs to the good employees. But, this consequence could not have happened to a bunch of "nicer vets".

I've heard nothing but good things and also the mention of a "high degree of integrity" in regards to Dr. Wright, all from colleagues here in town. For me, it's really hard to believe that such exorbitant emergency care prices would yield supposedly so little in return. It just doesn't make sense! I sure hope that someone (I've heard others mention Dr. Wright) steps in and fills this much-needed void here in town. What a gift it would be if a small group of doctors created a new urgent care practice. It really breaks my heart that this service is no longer available here in SB. And for what it's worth, I'm thankful that C.A.R.E. filled that niche for so long.

C'mon, folks, the "rich celebs" have no responsibility here just because some of you know how you would like to spend their money. Sounds pretty clear that the two females vets that were "in a relationship" forced the male out - hmmmmm. He was a fool to get involved in such a deal, but since he got screwed out of his investment deserves compensation - hence the lawsuit. As far as the care provided by CARE, my own experience ranged from excellent when they first opened (i.e. when Dr. Wright was still there) to lousy in more recent times. Doesn't surprise me that they failed.

And how many of you who think McCaw should put her money into CARE support her by buying the NewsPress? Can't have your cake and eat it, too, folks, even though trying to do that seems to be a pastime for many in this town....

I should say out front that I don't know Wendy McCaw but I think it's only right to point out that she has made sizable contributions to animal, wildlife, care with her donations to the SB Wildlife Care Network, their new facility that has been so verrrrrrrry slow to get operating. (That's another story....)

As for cake and eating it, what's the point of having a cake if you can't eat it? ...I agree with the others: those hugely rich in this area and who have pets and care about animals should step forward but that wouldn't be our system at all, would it. Besides which, Purvis and Lane have really disqualified themselves from any kind of sympathy by how they treated their employees --- and if the vet tech above is correct, they gave no proper guidance.

There really should be oversight of how animals, including wild animals, are treated in care facilities!

Ah, another citizen ready to tell those better off how to spend their money. It's the Santa Barbara Pastime! McCaw is the owner of the SB News Press, generally reviled in this town, esp by the Left, who don't understand that the paper is her privately owned property (who in fact don't seem to get the concept of private property at all, unless its their own Prop 13 subsidized homestead under discussion). And having already made sizable donations to wildlife care, maybe SHE decided she already gave enough of her PRIVATE funds? Listen, ya can't have noblesse oblige and democracy at the same time, although many of the not-so-rich would like it to be so.

I do agree with you about Purvis and Lane - that was kinda my point. Hopefully Wright will collect his judgement and reopen CARE with 100% high quality service - as it was in the beginning. Don't know if you've been around long enough to remember, but CARE drove the other SB emergency vet clinic out of business within a year after they opened, with Wright in charge, thanks to CARE's original outstanding service and caring attitudes. The other clinic was a joke, but that's what happened to CARE also after Wright left.

now mexicans have no where to go for knife fight wounds. the vet shop had doors for each gang. the truth is that it was a hispanic abortion clinic, but no hispanic would come and the two that did, failed to pay. yes it's a sad day for all the movie stars and hispanolas.cisco

JohnLocke: The success of a capitalist system (Which I prefer to a communist system) depends on the generosity of those "havs" who recognize that being a "have not" doesn't per se make someone lazy or inferior.

"And how many of you who think McCaw should put her money into CARE support her by buying the NewsPress?"

This has nothing to do with the News-Press: It was merely reference to the fact that she is uniquely qualified to help out in the situation and that she has shown a genuine interest in animal welfare.

If you are someone (and you might be for all we know) who is physically strong and a neighbor asks you "could you please help me lift this?", do you say "I don't have to help you do anything"? Likewise, if one of your loved ones is trapped in a burning car and someone comes by who can rescue them, are you going to use the same argument that the person doesn't *have to" take a minute to save your loved one?

Certain people have been blessed (sorry atheists) with certain abilities and life situations and are in a position to help out in situations where others (at least individually) cannot.

As you say, we can't have it both ways, and we can't have a successful free enterprise system if people collectively decide "what's mine is mine and &*$($ you because I earned it". As the saying goes "to whom much is given, much is expected" and even though many who are wealthy worked hard to earn what they have, the truth is luck plays a big role in their success, even if that "luck" is a God-given ability to make money.

I am not telling people better off how to spend their money. I probably should have phrased my sentence better: those financially affluent, from whatever reason, should step forward if they care about emergency care for animals, all animals. Obviously, if they don't care, they won't, whatever the moral "shoulds". And I also was doubly careless: it is our system to not step forward if one doesn't want to --- or to do so if one wants to.

As for the other emergency clinic, the owner of that was on the verge of retirement for years, and it showed, and, no doubt, CARE pushed it over the edge.

It seems unlikely that Wright will collect the judgment since Parvis and Lane are filing corporate as well as personal bankruptcies.

Just one more thought on the entitlement mentality here. I agree, of course, that those who have should help and in fact do so myself when possible, but it is after all their choice. Period. With no moral judgements. There are far too many people here (and in other places too I'm sure) who are always quick to suggest that others should step forward. Too often those suggesting that "the rich" should do whatever make the suggestions with a clear tone of entitlement and envy. So here's an idea for those folks: lead by giving your own money, not someone else's.

As to Wright collecting, I'm afraid that citti is correct. So the net is that Wright primarily funded and drove a business that was ultimately valued at over $4 million, got forced out by the "girls", gets nothing, and the "girls" get to declare bankruptcy after arguably ruining a badly needed business and just walk away. Hardly seems just.

@billclausen: Your comment "This has nothing to do with the News-Press" is an excellent example of the "have your cake and eat it too" attitude. The suggestion that McCaw should donate has everything to do with the NewsPress. McCaw is the owner of the News Press. She was vilified by many in SB, including yourself if I remember correctly, for her management of HER newspaper. In fact, I would say that she has been treated miserably and with disrespect by a great many people in this town (BTW I don't know the lady). To then expect her to respond with generosity to the people of SB is a bit, shall we say, naive. Wonderful that she has given what she has, not only to wildlife but also to the SB Bowl. Be thankful not critical.

"So here's an idea for those folks: lead by giving your own money, not someone else's."

OK, how about this: Someone (who has time and resources) put together a fund and I'll contribute the tiny bit that I can afford to contribute. Does that sound fair?

"The suggestion that McCaw should donate has everything to do with the NewsPress. McCaw is the owner of the News Press."

Not on my end it doesn't. McCaw has been high-profile on animal welfare issues so it would seem natural that she would a logical choice. Also, I didn't mention her with spite, but on the basis of her previous interest in the issue, and the fact that she has several million times more money in her bank account than I do.

"Bottlenose Dolphins are occasionally hunted by certain types of killer whales but they are generally avoided; conversely, in the case of some killer whales, the dolphins are befriended by them."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca

McCaw financially supported the cause of Keiko the Killer Whale. Needless to say, we dolphins are a bit leery of her given her connection to these creatures who are known to attack us.

I love the idea that the town turned on HER - as if she hadn't used *her* paper to crap on anyone and everyone who disagreed with far right, crazy libertarian notions.

I would never, EVER put my animals (or anything or anyone I cared about) in the hands of someone like her. NEVER. If her ownership of the NewsPress is any indication, an animal hospital under her banner would be an unmitigated disaster.

@billclausen: I'd be right there donating with you. In fact, I'd like to see a land trust set up to take the Gaviota Coast land out of private hands and would contribute to that too.

@EatTheRich: I assume that you believe that wildlife is now totally at risk because McCaw donated to the Wildlife Care Network?? And BTW "far right" and "libertarian" are not the same thing. But your posting name pretty much tells us what your socio-politico-economic views are. You have a real nice day now, ya hear?

@JohnLocke - I have to give you credit, as I am completely in awe of the things that you assume are true, and yet, about which you are so constantly wrong. At this point, you no longer offend but amuse me. (And I had an amazing day, thankyouverymuch.)

Hmm. no other of the big talkers willing to put their money where their mouth is. Big surprise.

ON a more cheerful note, San Roque Vet Hosp has announced that it has contracted with ex CARE employees to provide emergency service after hours. Problem solved by plain old folks - no government intervention or celebrity funding required.

This comment is in regards to @ citti. I only know of 1 other Emergency Pet Hospital(ER services only and not a Day Practice) in Santa Barbara beside C.A.R.E. And, that was Pacific Emergency Pet Hospital on State Street. Unless, you miscommunicated what you meant and are referring to another specific matter.

Pacific Emergency opened in the 1990's with Dr. George Law presiding. C.A.R.E opened in 2003. In 2003, Pacific Emergency ownership changed hands with Dr. Law leaving and another Vet taking over. Pacific Emergency did not close down until May 2006. It did not get "out of business within a year after they opened" So, you are incorrect on that statement. But, you are partially correct that the unprofessional and back-handed tactics used by C.A.R.E. did force Pacific Emergency to close down; among some other reasons. It is your opinion if you believed that "The other clinic was a joke". But, there are numerous other former clients who would vehemently disagree. Pacific Emergency was American Animal Hospital Association certified. C.A.R.E. was not.

I truly do hope that SB can be able to open up another ER Pet Hospital. While, it is great that some local animal hospitals will offer after-hours emergency services; it puts a stressful strain on the Vets to do dual roles.

I'm sorry to see CARE close it's doors. I can't say much for it's management, but It's because of their dedicated professional staff that my beloved family cat is still around and healthy 3 years after his operation. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someone will come along and provide this most needed service in Santa Barbara.